TENNESSEE TECH AT GARDNER-WEBB
Sept. 21 | 3 p.m. CT | Spangler Stadium | Boiling Springs, N.C.
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Tennessee Tech Football team is at the top of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference standings with Southeast Missouri after a big win this past Saturday over Tennessee State and the Golden Eagles don't want it to be a short stay.
It'll be a big test, however, as Tech heads into Boiling Springs to take on Gardner-Webb, who made its second-straight appearance to the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs and tied with UT Martin for the Big South-OVC championship last season.
That said, it's a different Runnin' Bulldog team than the one Tech faced last season and vice versa as the Golden Eagles have a vastly different makeup than the team last season.
Kickoff is slated for a 3 p.m. Central / 4 p.m. Eastern start. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will have the call locally on 106.1 The Eagle, while Michael Guerriere and Chris Hughes will narrate the action on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Weather for Saturday's contest is forecast to be cloudy and 77 with a slight chance of rain after the bands of Helene pass through Boiling Springs on Friday with 1-to-2 inches of rain anticipated in the area.
With the departure of former Tennessee Tech quarterback Tre Lamb from the head coaching post at Gardner-Webb to take the helm at East Tennessee State, the Runnin' Bulldogs have played to three close losses, including a 21-20 defeat from Wofford, a 13-6 loss at James Madison and a 27-26 loss at FBS foe Charlotte. GWU picked up a decisive victory last week at Presbyterian, ripping the Blue Hose for a 42-21 road victory.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open Big South-OVC play this week with the Golden Eagles. The series is tied 2-2 with their first conference matchup coming last season. GWU won the game at Tucker Stadium 35-0, despite Tech posting just three fewer yards on offense, 232-to-229. Gardner-Webb had two interception returns for touchdowns in the contest as Jamari Brown and Ja'Kai Young each had pick-sixes.
New GWU head coach Cris Reisert, posted a 40-11 record at Division II Tiffin, and brought seven players from his previous school with him, while also collecting 45 transfer players on the 2024 roster with a wide range of levels from FBS to JUCOs.
Still, the new Runnin' Bulldogs appear to be right where the old ones left off, despite close losses to start the season against tough competition.
That's something Tech head coach Bobby Wilder and his team understand well. The Golden Eagles had a heartbreaking finish against Middle Tennessee with the Blue Raiders claiming victory in the final minute, then a 48-3 contest at then-No. 1 Georgia. Once Tech was back into the FCS level and in-conference, the Golden Eagles were able to show what they are very much capable of doing with the 24-14 victory over Tennessee State.
Tech (1-2, 1-0 Big South-OVC) dominated the first quarter and set the momentum early as the Golden Eagles scored on their first two drives of the game. TSU tied the game up at 14-all before halftime but a Dom LeBlanc field goal and a Ty Moss pick-six sealed the deal. The Golden Eagles held the Tigers to exactly zero rushing yards and sacked TSU quarterback Draylen Ellis seven times – the most since Tech's eight against Eastern Illinois in 2010.
The Golden Eagles were also able to establish a rushing assault on the Tigers with Obie Sanni breaking off a big run in the first quarter of the game as he finished with 75 yards on six carries and Jalen Mitchell 72 on 14 totes.
Mitchell leads the team with 139 yards on 30 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per rush, while Sanni has 91 yards on 11 carries (8.3 per carry) and Kyron Cumby 76 yards on 20 carries (3.8 per carry). Jordyn Potts has thrown for 368 yards and three touchdowns on 44-of-71 passing (122.7 ypg). D.J. Linkins has 12 catches for 112 yards (9.3 per catch), Tremel Jones 10 catches for 85 yards (8.5 per catch) and Ashton Maples five catches for 76 yards (15.2 per catch) and two touchdowns.
Cayman Spaulding leads Tech with 21 tackles, including 3.5 for-loss and a sack, while Tim Coutras and Omari Philyaw each have 15.
For Gardner-Webb, Carson Gresock has rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns thus far, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 45.0 yards per game. Edward Saydee has 175 yards and a score on 43 carries and Quasean Holmes has 137 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tyler Riddell has thrown for 976 yards and three touchdowns, completing 77 of his 121 attempts with five interceptions. Anthony Lowe has caught 15 passes for 205 yards and a score, while Giovanni Adopte has two touchdowns among nine catches for 170 yards and Caleb Borders has 170 yards on 11 catches.
On defense, Trevor Moffitt leads the way with 29 tackles, including four for-loss and two sacks with an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Steven Rose has 27 tackles, including two for-loss, while Raquon Hartley has 22 stops with 4.5 for-loss for 47 yards and 3.5 sacks for 44 yards along with two forced fumbles.
The Golden Eagles return home next weekend as they host South Carolina State for Legends Weekend at Tucker Stadium with a 1:30 kickoff time.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
